I just landed a freelance gig for High Performance Pontiac to do a shoot and tech write up on a new product, so I was just wondering what you guys suggest for shooting in a shop setting.

I currently have a Canon 40D with a 17-40L lens, 28-135 and a 480ex flash. I have rented some lights before and I was thinking about buying something, since this is going to be a regular gig from now on.

So what do you guys think I should do? Get a 580ex2 and run a wireless trigger setup?

What Wireless setup do you recommend?

Also do you have any suggestions for glass? I'm shooting the entire install and car before and after. I was thinking my 17-40L would be good enough, but I'm having second thoughts. I have some cash in the budget to buy some things, so let me know what everyone thinks.

I literally have 1 week or less before the shoot, so... im kinda nervous, since this shoot and write up will determine if I get more gigs.

Or you can go down in a ball of flames and have all your credibility lost forever. Sure go ahead and try that.

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you've always been completely prepared for any job you've ever done? you've never taken a job you weren't 100% sure how to do yet? you've never accepted a job knowing you may not know the info then, but you could figure it out before the shoot/event/whatever and pull it off?

i doubt it.

clearly my advise requires baby steps, but to imply that 'no one has ever tried that and been successful' is kind of silly. to be clear, im not recommending deception, but instead confidence in your abilities to be a problem solver.

you've always been completely prepared for any job you've ever done? you've never taken a job you weren't 100% sure how to do yet? you've never accepted a job knowing you may not know the info then, but you could figure it out before the shoot/event/whatever and pull it off?

i doubt it.

clearly my advise requires baby steps, but to imply that 'no one has ever tried that and been successful' is kind of silly. to be clear, im not recommending deception, but instead confidence in your abilities to be a problem solver.

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if you have the technical side down and haven't done an exact shoot before, thats one thing. winging it as an amateur when you don't even know what gear to use or how to light something is completely different

if you have the technical side down and haven't done an exact shoot before, thats one thing. winging it as an amateur when you don't even know what gear to use or how to light something is completely different

you've always been completely prepared for any job you've ever done? you've never taken a job you weren't 100% sure how to do yet? you've never accepted a job knowing you may not know the info then, but you could figure it out before the shoot/event/whatever and pull it off?

i doubt it.

clearly my advise requires baby steps, but to imply that 'no one has ever tried that and been successful' is kind of silly. to be clear, im not recommending deception, but instead confidence in your abilities to be a problem solver.

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sure i have. But im confident that im consistent enough and have the knowledge and know how, to be able to problem solve.

When i get a gig i have never done before, i dont go on a message board and ask what gear i should buy or ask how i should light it.

I research by reading books, asking a pro that i know that has done the type of thing before, and also go out of my way to do a couple test shoots prior to shooting the said gig.

if you have the technical side down and haven't done an exact shoot before, thats one thing. winging it as an amateur when you don't even know what gear to use or how to light something is completely different

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right, and my initial response was directed more at your broad comment of being "continually amazed" at how "people land gigs without even knowing how they'll pull them off" rather than a specific reply to defend the thread starter.

additionally, though, the thread starter does seem to have a reasonable technical knowledge and is asking for help and recommendation, the same type of post you see all over this forum. He didn't ask for links to shopping carts of the items he should buy along with a blog roll of how it all works step by step.

turbodude, you just confirmed what i've already said, except i dont see an issue with someone asking who perhaps they perceive as professionals (many members on this board) their opinion on how to accomplish something many of them have done before.

right, and my initial response was directed more at your broad comment of being "continually amazed" at how "people land gigs without even knowing how they'll pull them off" rather than a specific reply to defend the thread starter.

additionally, though, the thread starter does seem to have a reasonable technical knowledge and is asking for help and recommendation, the same type of post you see all over this forum. He didn't ask for links to shopping carts of the items he should buy along with a blog roll of how it all works step by step.

turbodude, you just confirmed what i've already said, except i dont see an issue with someone asking who perhaps they perceive as professionals (many members on this board) their opinion on how to accomplish something many of them have done before.

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lighting a car to make it look good isn't easy, , he doesn't know how to, and hasn't shown he has any kind of technical base to draw from

I'm continually amazed at how people land gigs without even knowing how they'll pull them off

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Thanks duude! I've been shooting cars for a long long long time (never really in a shop environment) and traveled the country on the hotrod power tour several years in a row fully sponsored... i know how to pull it off, i just asked a freakin question ... whats the problem with that?

I just asked for some advise on some lighting and some glass.... i didnt know that was such a big deal.

I landed the gig, due to the fact that I've written several articles for several magazines and shot a few cars already that have been published in several magazines... but all my shots have been outdoor, so all i was asking for was some info ... thats all...sorry to bother everyone

This gig is just a pretty big one 2 issues about 3-6 pages in each issue... with potential to write on a constant basis, so i really wanted to just hit a homerun, which i probably will, but i just thought you guys would offer some advise, since a lot of you have some better goodies and a lot more creative talent than me...

Thanks duude! I've been shooting cars for a long long long time and traveled the country on the hotrod power tour several years in a row fully sponsored... i know how to pull it off, i just asked a freakin question ... whats the problem with that?

Thanks duude! I've been shooting cars for a long long long time and traveled the country on the hotrod power tour several years in a row fully sponsored... i know how to pull it off, i just asked a freakin question ... whats the problem with that?